**NOTE: See post #6 for a link to the full Sheriff Baker story - ENJOY**

***I wanted to say a very special "THANK YOU" to my long time dear friend and hunting partner Dwight Williamson for telling me about his time living in Salmon back in the 1940's with his family....and for taking the time to travel with me to Salmon several years ago to introduce me to Bill's son Bob and telling me about his time in Salmon as a young boy. You can do a search for Elmer Keith and find my other threads regarding Elmer***

For those who may be interested - This is a photo of the S&W .44 S&W Special that Sheriff Bill Baker carried. Baker resided at the courthouse in Salmon Idaho and was in office from 1957 to his retirement in 1989.

Of course this was the time that old Elmer lived in Salmon and Bill and Elmer were well aquainted.

Not sure if Elmer had something to do with the Sheriff acquiring the .44 but I have a hunch he could have.

One story I was told by Bill's son was the time that a neighbor of Elmer's called the Sheriff complaining that Elmer was going to shoot their dog if it crapped on his yard again. The Sheriff told the neighbor that no crime had been committed but that she should keep the dog out of Elmer's yard because Elmer does what he says he will do.


A few day's later the woman called and told the Sheriff that Elmer had shot the dog......and she demanded something be done immediately.

The Sheriff drove over and spoke to Elmer in the front yard with the neighbor looking on from her yard. He handed Elmer a citation and said...."I know your not going to pay this fine.....but I had to at least show her that I was citing you for shooting her dog."

Sheriff Bill Baker passed away after a battle with cancer in 1995 and is buried on the family ranch south of Salmon.

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Tom Graham SWCA #2303

Neat story and pics! IIRC, Elmer wrote in "Sixguns" about riding on patrol with the Sheriff's Dept in Salmon. Of course, he recommended the 44spl at that time.

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PTLAPTA!

Cool info and pics, thanks for posting, So would that be a pre-27, or just a .357 Magnum, or what?

Also wondering what was up with the wrecker in the fifth pic, maybe the Chevy prowler was broke down.


Sounds like the difference between a Peace Officer and a Law Enforcement Officer. I've never lived in a real rural area, but I've heard that folks don't take well to loose dogs running around on their property in general, and they're likely to get SSS'd.

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TEAM DNF

Do you own the gun now? If so, may we see some more photos of it, and maybe get some details about what it is, when it was manufactured, etc.?

Even if you don't own the gun, yourself, do you know any other details about it?

The revolver remains in the collection of the Baker family.
Through my hunting partner who was a very close friend of the Sheriff I have become friends with Bill's two sons and have had the pleasure to visit the family ranch up on the hills above the Salmon River.

I wil be heading up to Salmon the last 10 days of September for my annual archery elk hunt and will see if I can more information or maybe get to handle the revolver in person.

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Tom Graham SWCA #2303

I have attached the full story of Bill Baker for you to enjoy, as written by Bill's grand daughter while still in school several years back. It will explain the photo of Bill next to his patrolcar and the wrecker.

Attached Files

Bill Baker History.pdf (1.39 MB, 480 views)

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Tom Graham SWCA #2303

The gun on his tombstone is a Model 19 or Model 66, or a pre-19 Combat Magnum. Maybe he owned one of those, too.

The real gun seen here, if a .357, has the postwar hammer and smooth rosewood target stocks and a target trigger.

However, it could well be a M-1950 .44 Target. As the sheriff was a pal of Elmer's, that could well be the answer. I'm curious. It'd be interesting to know what abraded the sideplate.

Note the screw at top of sideplate. Probably a pre-Model no. something. 24, or a 27 or 28. Four-inch barrel. My crystal ball needs new batteries; that's the best I can do today.

Why didn't the sheriff cite Elmer's neighbor for allowing a dog free, if they had a leash law, the dog for littering in an unsanitary manner and criminal trespass, and Elmer for firing a gun in town? That should cover all the bases. And show the voters that the sheriff was impartial.

GREAT ARTICLE! Very interesting.

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Possum—The other white meat!

Notice how Bill's hat is always tilted down on the right side? That's just the way he liked to wear it according to his son.

Bill was a tall guy, around 6'-4" or so hence the inscription "THE TALL MAN" on his head stone.

Although Sheriff Bill Baker identified as a Democrat, these were different times and that label did not put you in the far left.

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Tom Graham SWCA #2303

Is that a Chevy Impala ?

Someone above mentioned a Chevy Prowler

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Tom Graham SWCA #2303

Prowler is another nickname for a patrol car, kinda like a police cruiser.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Bill Baker sounds like a man I would have enjoyed knowing and working with! I understand and appreciate the "presence" that was attributed to him. That's a very real thing, and no doubt served him well.

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So long ... Ken

Reading through the story of Bill Baker that I posted in the section PISTOL RANGE DEDICATION you will see that Bill was shooting his 1954 Smith and Wesson .44 Special with quick draw sight that was given to him by Elmer Keith.

My guess is that there would be no record of Elmer ordering this revolver directly from S&W, but I suppose it's possible.

I may be able to get some photos of the revolver when I am in Salmon in Sept visiting with the Baker's.

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Tom Graham SWCA #2303

Elmer's first 44spl 4" 1950 Target was shipped directly to him from S&W in April 1951. Another was shipped directly to him in 1955 IIRC. Both guns had his name engraved on sideplate and were sold at his estate auction several years ago. Other guns are known to have been shipped to him by S&W. A factory letter request would likely be the only way to know.

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PTLAPTA!

Will be heading north to Salmon in a week or so and will try to get some photos and additional information regarding the S&W given to Bill Baker by Elmer Keith.

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Tom Graham SWCA #2303

The revolver looks like a 4" N-Frame. I am wondering if it's a Highway Patrolman.

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You're shy a few manners.

Great thread, very interesting. Thanks
Walt

Ah, back in the days when Dems could be conservative and pro gun.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

If the sheriff was as frugal as described,the Chevy is most likely a Biscayne.It was a few trim levels below an Impala,and somewhat lower priced.Our local PD had several of them,back in the day,before switching to Plymouths in 1968.
Clark

Alas those days were not that long ago. Zell Miller was about the last of them.

Yes, Zell was a gooden'. Years ago, I read his book about learning life's lessons in the Marine Corps.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Great tale. I was broken in by a sheriff of that mold, who also lived over the jail. His wife was undersheriff and dispatcher. One of his sons was a knothead and the other was my good friend.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

The revolver. If you blow-up the photo you will see the clearance between the the cylinder and breech is far too wide to have recessed charge holes. Not wide enough to be a .45 ACP. It could be a .44 Spl., .38 Spl. (Outdorsman), or even a .45 Colt.

Attached Images

Revolver.jpg (32.3 KB, 85 views)

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Gunsmithing since 1961

If you read the story linked in post 5, Baker’s son wrote a poem after his father’s death that referred to his “famous 44” (page 23)

Thank you. I thoroughly enjoyed the story.Dave

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Illegitimi non carborundum

Here are some additional historical photos for you to enjoy. Still trying to get the information on the sheriff's 44 that Elmer gave to him. Did some looking through the guns with his son Bob while I was in Salmon last week and came across one of his service revolvers which is a 4" Model 19-1 and you can see by the photos that the sheriff "customized" the stocks for his hand.

The .44 is currently in the Salmon museum on display and I am going to get the serial number and order up a letter from Roy as soon as possible.

The .22 Colt pictured was the gun jammed into the sheriff's ribs by the desperate fugitive who hijacked him in the story you read in a previous post on this thread.

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Tom Graham SWCA #2303

What a great thread! Thank you for sharing and updating it.

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Dan
Ps 96 SWCA 2930 SWHF 524

Neat!! Can't wait to hear the results of the letter on the 44!! The Colt is a "Pre-Woodsman". Judging from the diamond grips, probably 1922 or earlier. The model was stamped Woodsman begining ~1927. Someone swapped the barrel to a 4.5" sport (began Sport production in 1933) it would have been a 6 5/8" pencil or medium barrel originally. Skeeter Skelton wrote his first handgun shoot was with his dad's Colt Woodsman Sport around age 6. Glad your friend wasn't shot with it!!! Nice souvenir though.

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PTLAPTA!

Finally got the information off of the revolver in the photo and will be sending off for the letter this week. Will post the results when the letter arrives.

The assumption is that this revolver was given to Sherrif Baker by Elmer Keith, and I am hoping the letter will show that it shipped directly to Elmer......we shall see!

The caliber is indeed .44 S&W Special

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Tom Graham SWCA #2303

Any 4" 1950 Target is indeed Special!! Good Luck!

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PTLAPTA!

GREAT history!! Funny how some minds think alike. This 'GUN' came to me some years back. It looks forever like the gun of the 'Sherrif's' She IS a MDL 29 S#-- S ending in 7322. Has done fine for me wearing rosewood 'coke bottle' stocks, which she came to me with. Really too bad these stocks were discountuined as they fit my hand like a glove, every thing else is a runner- up.

This is a scan of the Jinks letter that I received today regarding Sheriff Bill Baker's 4" .44 HE

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Tom Graham SWCA #2303

Well....now that's really interesting!! Sure provides provenience for the Lemhi Co Sherriff's office!!

What a great thread this has been...

Thanks for sharing with us, including the letter!!

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

GREEAT THREAD!!! thanks for sharing---really interesting---

Most interesting!!!!!!!

Great thread, thanks. I wonder what that 1965 or 66 Chevy scout car has under the hood.

This is a very interesting thread. A 4" 1950 44 Special Target is probably one of the best police Revolvers available in 1954.

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Gun Safety is no accident.

I sent a copy of Roy's letter to the museum's curator in Salmon and they have placed a copy of the letter in the display case along with Bill's hat and of course the .44 that we have been discussing.

If any of you ever make it to the museum in Salmon.....have someone take a photo of you next to the display and post it!

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Tom Graham SWCA #2303